River Cats Conversation: LaMonte Wade Jr.
San Francisco Giants outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr. stopped by to talk with the voice of the Sacramento River Cats, Johnny Doskow at Giants Spring Training. Read the conversation here: JD: Tell us about your offseason and with everything that went on last year with “Late Night LaMonte” and everything. How
San Francisco Giants outfielder LaMonte Wade Jr. stopped by to talk with the voice of the Sacramento River Cats, Johnny Doskow at Giants Spring Training.
Read the conversation here:
JD: Tell us about your offseason and with everything that went on last year with “Late Night LaMonte” and everything. How are you doing this year?
LWJ: I’m doing pretty good. I’m just grateful and excited to be back. I spent the offseason at home in Baltimore with the family. I got to spend a lot of time at home with them. I got some good workouts in as well and came back ready to go.
JD: It was exciting to see you win the Willie Mac Award (last season). What was that experience like?
LWJ: It was a night I will never forget. I didn’t know my parents were going to be there. For the Giants to get my family in just made the night even more special. To be able to address the crowd and see the former winners there behind me as well, it was just an awesome night. I’m extremely grateful for that night and that award. It’s hanging up in my parents’ basement as we speak.
JD: That’s awesome. What was the experience like seeing all the previous winners and just getting to greet and talk to them? Their appreciation and congratulations must have been pretty cool.
LWJ: It was breathtaking. You see those guys walking on the field one-by-one and you’re just sitting there in the dugout like “Man.” This award means so much to so many people. It meant so much to me and my family to receive the award. I’ll continue to go out there and play hard each and every day.
JD: There’s that great shot of your mom and her reaction to a home run you hit. That obviously went viral. What did that mean to you in your heart?
LWJ: That was a special day. I didn’t even know she was going to be up there. I saw it on the board when I was running back out on the field. I kind of had a little moment to myself. It was just unbelievable. We talk about it almost every day. It will be something we never forget.
JD: No doubt. You know your ability to remain calm. We talk about “Late Night LaMonte.” But part of that is your ability to slow things down. Has that always been in you? In pressure situations you can slow everything down.
LWJ: I always felt that being quick and anxious never really got me positive results. It really started in college where my coach pulled me to the side and really told me I needed to try and relax and not get too excited in certain moments. I try to take that into each and every at bat. It just so happens the best results happen late. This year I’ll just try and take that late approach, I guess, and bring it to the earlier at bats.
JD: 107 wins. There’s a looseness in this clubhouse. You guys like each other and are having fun. The expectations this year, it’s not really about the wins, it’s about advancing further than you did.
LWJ: Right. Absolutely. We just want to come out here and win ball games and be consistent. Consistent in our work and consistent in how we play every day, and continue to be great teammates to one another and pull for one another.
JD: I appreciate it. Thank you.
LWJ: Thank you.
First Triple-A Homer for Eldridge Highlight of 8-3 Sacramento Win
SUGAR LAND, Texas – The first Triple-A home run for Bryce Eldridge could not have come at a better time, as he launched a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning that set the Sacramento River Cats up for an 8-3 victory over the Sugar Land Space Cowboys on Thursday.
Slim Lead Slips from Sacramento, Sugar Land Snatches 4-2 Win
SUGAR LAND, Texas – A pair of RBI singles from Brett Wisely and Logan Porter had the Sacramento River Cats nursing a one-run lead late in the contest, but unfortunately they could not hold the lead as the Sugar Land Space Cowboys scored three times in the eighth to hand
Big Frames Early Key to River Cats Victory Over Space Cowboys
SUGAR LAND, Texas – Three runs in the first and four runs in the third accounted for the majority of the Sacramento River Cats offense on Tuesday, as they held an edge the entire way and toppled the Sugar Land Space Cowboys with an 11-3 win in the series opener.
Hoss and Trashman: Family Bonded by Baseball
Around the world, it is estimated that over two million children play little league, many with the idea to one day become a Major League Baseball player. A fraction of that number moves onto high school ball, and even less grace a professional baseball field of any level, let alone
Cats Ride Three Straight Multi-Run Frames to Victory
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Trailing by a run as the game moved into the middle frames, the Sacramento River Cats unleashed three straight multi-run frames that powered Sacramento to an 8-1 victory over the El Paso Chihuahuas on Saturday. Two pitches into the game and the Chihuahuas (28-28) snatched the
Sacramento Stops Slide with Close 5-3 Victory Over El Paso
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – For a second straight game the Sacramento River Cats took a lead with a three-run frame, this time dropping a trio of runs in the fourth and making the lead last over the final four frames for a 5-3 win over the El Paso Chihuahuas on
Johnson Blast Gives Sacramento Early Lead They Cannot Hold
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A no-doubt three-run homer from Daniel Johnson put the Sacramento River Cats out in front of the El Paso Chihuahuas early in game three of their series, but an El Paso grand slam shifted the momentum and gave Sacramento an 8-5 defeat on Thursday. The Chihuahuas
Lamb RBI Single Lone Tally for Cats in 3-1 Loss to Chihuahuas
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A Jake Lamb knock in the bottom of the seventh scored Daniel Johnson and knotted the contest at 1-1 between the Sacramento River Cats and El Paso Chihuahuas, but a pair of run in the top of the ninth meant a 3-1 defeat for Sacramento on
Three Runs in Ninth Not Enough for Sacramento Against El Paso
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Fighting until the final out and trailing by seven runs, the Sacramento River Cats plated one in the seventh and three in the home half of the ninth but still came up short against the El Paso Chihuahuas on Tuesday, 9-5. After a pair of Chihuahuas
Fifth Inning the Undoing of Cats on Sunday Against Comets
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Three straight run-scoring innings were not enough for the Sacramento River Cats to counter a seven-run fifth by the Oklahoma City Comets, giving Sacramento a 9-6 defeat in the series finale on Sunday. Both teams went quietly in the first before the River Cats (25-26) notched
Cats Cruise Behind Whisenhunt and Two Luciano Blasts
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The Sacramento River Cats offense continued its breakout and piled on 11 runs in their Saturday contest with the Oklahoma City Comets, four of which came from the bat of Marco Luciano as his two homers and four RBI spurred Sacramento to an 11-4 victory. Six
Lamb Slam Leads River Cats to Victory over Comets
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – A first inning grand slam set the tone for the Sacramento River Cats, who rode that momentum and outlasted the Oklahoma City Comets for an 8-6 win on Friday night. A pair of walks opened the game for the River Cats (24-25) while the bases were
Knizner Debuts with Five RBI, Cats Win Third Straight
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Scoring early and often was the key to success in a second straight game for the Sacramento River Cats, plating seven runs by through the top of the third inning en route to an 8-1 victory over the Oklahoma City Comets on Wednesday. It was an
Sacramento Starts Series with Secure 11-5 Victory
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Continuing the momentum from their Sunday victory, the Sacramento River Cats scored early and rode solid pitching to an 11-5 victory over the Oklahoma City Comets in their series opener on Tuesday. Both teams went quietly in the first, but the River Cats (22-24) exploded in
Whisenhunt Dominates Bees, Earns PCL Pitcher of the Week Honor
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A pair of strong outings in which he punched out a combined 14 batters while not allowing an earned run has earned left-hander Carson Whisenhunt his second Pacific Coast League weekly honor of the season, as he was named the PCL Pitcher of the Week for
Cats Close Series with Dominant 7-1 Win Over Bees
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Another Carson Whisenhunt start, another Whisenhunt gem as the southpaw breezed through seven strong frames while Max Stassi provided a bang in his return from the injured list to power the Sacramento River Cats to a 7-1 win over the Salt Lake Bees. After missing 19
Johnson’s Blast Lone Tally in Cats’ 6-1 Loss
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Sacramento River Cats trailed in Saturday night’s contest the entire way after a Salt Lake Bees homer to start the game, mustering only one run in a 6-1 loss at Sutter Health Park. A solo blast from Daniel Johnson in the third inning represented the
Cats Avoid Shutout but Fall 9-2 to Bees
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Two runs in the final at-bats of the game helped the Sacramento River Cats avoid a second consecutive shutout at the hands of the Salt Lake Bees, but still the offense was too little, too late with Salt Lake capturing game four of the series by
Sacramento Shut Out by Salt Lake on Thursday
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Five hits were all the Sacramento River Cats could muster in game three of their series with the Salt Lake Bees on Thursday, none of which could produce a run as Salt Lake snagged a 6-0 victory over Sacramento at Sutter Health Park. River Cats (20-22)
Cats Capitalize in Seventh, Snag 6-2 Win over Bees
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – While the Salt Lake Bees wiped away an early lead by the Sacramento River Cats, the Cats scored three in the seventh and one in the eight as they swiped game two of the series with Salt Lake by a 5-3 final. For the sixth straight
Four-Run First Sets Sacramento on Route to Victory, 5-3
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A four-run first inning and a dominant start from southpaw Carson Whisenhunt were the recipe for success for the Sacramento River Cats on Tuesday, as they topped the Salt Lake Bees in their series opener by a 5-3 final. The River Cats (19-21) were ready to
Sacramento Lead Slips Late Against Tacoma, Cats Drop Series
TACOMA, Wash. – Aiming to avoid a series loss, the Sacramento River Cats reached the scoreboard first and enjoyed a comfortable lead for most of the game, but the Tacoma Rainiers staged a late comeback to steal the series finale on Sunday, 12-7. For a second straight game it was
Luciano Slam Lifts Sacramento Over Tacoma, 7-5
TACOMA, Wash. – Marco Luciano delivered one of the most clutch hits of the young season for the Sacramento River Cats, unloading the bases with one swing that lifted Sacramento to a 7-5 win over the Tacoma Rainiers in game five of their set. An early 3-0 River Cats (18-20)
Cats Shutout by Rainiers on Wednesday, 3-0
TACOMA, Wash. – Despite pounding out six hits, the Sacramento River Cats were shutout for the second time this season as the Tacoma Rainiers tallied a trio of runs for a 3-0 victory in game two of their series on Wednesday. River Cats (17-18) starter Carson Whisenhunt (2-3) worked around
Four Extra-Base Hits in Sixth Pushes Sacramento to Victory
TACOMA, Wash. – A three-run sixth inning by the Sacramento River Cats broke open a 1-1 tie on Tuesday, using four extra-base hits in the frame to eventually take down the Tacoma Rainiers by a 4-2 final. Jumping out in front first was the Rainiers (11-23), as they turned a